Convertible chair and couch.



H. TIEDBMANN & J. U. CLARKE. CONVERTIBLE CHAIR AND GOUGH.

H. TIEDEMANN a J. U. CLARKE.

CONVERTIBLE CHAIR AND UOUCH.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 15, 1909.

956,836.4 Patented may 3, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l HUI l i Q5 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

v HENRY TIEDEMANN, OF'CAIVIDEN, NEW JERSEY, AND JAMES U. CLARKE, OFPHILA- DELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO EMIL GUENTHER,OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA; SAID CLARKE ASSIGNOR TO JACOB IARDENGUENTHER, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONVERTIBLE CHAIR AND COUCI-I.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3, 1910.

Application led May 15, 1909. Serial No. 496,264.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY TIEDEMANN and JAMES U. CLARKE, citizens ofthe United States, the former residing in the city and county of Camden,State o New Jersey, and the latter residing in the city and county ofPhiladelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulConvertible Chair and Couch, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to convertible chairs, couches or the like, andhas for its object to provide an article ot furniture which may normallyserve the purpose of a chair, sofa or the like, and in which position noindication of its dual character appears, but which ma be readilytransformed into a bed by a simple shifting of the several parts, andwhereby cumbersome, mechanical appliances are not necessary as a part ofthe operation.

For the purpose of illustrating our invention we have shown in theaccompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred byus, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory andreliable results, although it is to be understood that the variousinstrumentalities of which our invention consists can be variouslyarranged and organized and that our invention is not limited to theprecise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities asherein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a perspective et a chair embodying our invention.Fig. 2 represents a section on line ca -m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents aplan of the device when used as a bed. Fig. l represents a detail of alocking device.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in thefigures.

Referring to the drawings z--l designates the body portion oi the chairembodying our invention, the same being supported on legs 2 and providedwith a back t'rame 3 serving the usual purpose of a chair or couch back.The body portion l has preferably formed therein a compartment 4.-,wherein may be stored cushions, bed linen or the like or of course itmay be used for other purposes, as desired. Communication with theinterior of this compartment 4, in the present instance, is madepossible by a door 5 swingingly mounted by means of hinges G orequivalent devices.

7 designates a plurality of slats, bars or the like secured preferablyin a fixed manner to the body portion l and forming the seat ot' thechair and it will be noted that the same are suitably spaced apart, fora purpose to be hereinafter described.

8 designates side frames cooperating with the body portion 1, the samehaving the usual arms 9 and legs 10 thereon, whereby when in assembledposition, as in Fig. 1, the device has every appearance of being anordinary chair of the Morris or other type, as the case may be. In thepresent instance each side frame has secured thereto a plurality ofslats, bars or the like 11, which are spaced apart and so positioned asto engage the spaces between the slats 7 so that when both side frames Sare in contact with the body portion 1 the scat of the chair issubstantially a solid level one formed of the interfitting slats.

In order to insure absolute alinement and free sliding movement of theseveral slats l1 with respect to the stationary slats 7, a suitabletongue and groove joint 12 is formed bet-Ween them, as clearly shown inF10. 2.

Attention is especially directed to the feature of maintaining the samelevel for the stationary and movable slat members,whether they are inclosed, the chair, position or in open, the bed, position. As heretoforeconstrueted couches or bed chairs have been provided with impracticaltelescopic devices which necessarily produce differences of levelthroughout the length of the couch, thus producing ridges in themattress, which results sooner or later, in its destruction and besidesforms an uncomfortable, uneven surface for the occupant thereof.

It will of course be understood that suitable means are provided forlocking the side frames 8 to the bod portion 1 in order to form a safeand stable chair structure. In the present instance we provide a springlock 14 whereby as soon as the side frames S contact with the bodyportion 1 they are automatically locked. When it is desired to open thechair to form a couch, a key, or equivalent device, may be inserted inthe lock to release the parts and permit the eX- panding movement.

It Will be apparent that b our novel construction We have provide achair to all appearances of the ordinary type, but which containstherein a concealed compartment for bed linen, mattress and the like,and Which may, by a simple adjustment, be transformed into a couch. Assoon as the side frames 8 have been pulled out to the limit of movemental supporting surface is formed of a sufficient length to permitcomfortable reclining thereon, While all points of said surface are inthe same horizontal plane. The latter feature is particularly important,as thereupon depends the life of the mattress, since as heretoforeconstructed impractical telescoping members have caused Wear anddestruction of the mattress and irregularities in the surface, making itan uncomfortable support.

It Will no-W be apparent that We have devised a novel and usefulconstruction Which embodies the features of advantage enumerated asdesirable in the statement of the invention and the above descriptionand While We have in the present instance shown and described thepreferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to givesatisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that the sameis susceptible of modification in various particulars Without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invent-ion or sacrificing any of itsadvantages.

Having thus described our invention, What We claim as new' and desire tosecure by 'Letters Patent, is

l. In a device of the character stated, a body portion With spaced slatsand a relatively fixed compartment beneath said slats, and side frameseach movable with relation to the body portion and having slats adaptedto interfit With the slats of the body portion, the slats of the bodyportion and side frames forming a cover to said compartment. l

2. In a device of the character stated, a body portion with spaced slatsand a relatively fiXed compartment beneath said slats, side frames eachmovable With relation to the body portion and having slats adapted tointeriit with the slats of the body portion, the slats of the bodyportion and side frames forming a cover to said compartment, and amovably mounted front to said compartment accessible When the sideframes are in their closed position.

3. In a device of the character stated, a body portion with slats spacedapart and a compartment beneath said slats, a plurality of side frameseach movable laterally With relation to the body portion, slats carriedby each side frame and adapted to interfit with the slats of the bodyportion and forming a cover' to said compartment, and an automaticallyacting lock to hold the side frames to the body portion in their closedposition.

HENRY TIEDEMANN. JAMES U. CLARKE. y

Vitnesses:

ROBERT M. BARR, C. D. MCVAY.

